Gun charger device



Nov. 14, 1967 w. s. DRAPER m GUN CHARGER DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet l FiledMay 10, 1966 INVENTOR -DTU JET E.

5 ATTORNEY WEEHET 5 B! m MM. 8 W

rmmnmmlmm Nov. 14, 1967 w. s. DRAPER m 3,352,206

GUN CHARGER DEVI CE Filed May 10, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Egg.

INVENTOR Waller SJJIEPETHI AITORNE Nov. 14, 1967 w. s. DRAPER m3,352,205

GUN CHARGER DEVICE Filed. May 10, 1966 3 SheetsSheet 5 INVENTOR ATTORNEYUnited States Patent 3,352,206 GUN CHARGER DEVICE Walter S. Draper Ill,Palmer, Mass, assignor t0 the United States of America as represented bythe Secretary of the Army Filed May 10, 1966, Ser. No. 549,424 Claims.(Cl. 891) This invention relates to a machine gun of the XM140 type,such as described in application 470,942, filed July 9, 1965, now PatentNo. 3,318,191, in which the recoiling mass of the weapon is seared eachfiring cycle to a nonrecoiling mount against the force of loaded buffersprings with means provided for releasing the recoiling mass at theappropriate time before the chambered cartridge is fired so that theforce of the buffer springs can be applied against the recoil forceproduced by the firing of the cartridge to reduce the amount of therecoil force transferred to the mount trunnions.

Sometimes, due to misfires or other mishaps in the firing cycle of theweapon, the recoiling mass will end up in its forward position on themount so that the weapon is inoperative until the recoiling mass isretracted to its seared position and the buffer springs are fullyloaded. It is therefore the object of this invention to provide for sucha weapon a charger device for retracting the recoiling mass against theforce of the buffer springs to its seared position with the chargerdevice being of rugged construction, as some 1000 p.s.i. is required tocharge the weapon, and being quickly disengageable from the recoilingmass after being seared to permit quick resumption of firing.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferredembodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a fragment of a machine gun of XM140type with the recoiling mass thereof shown in its forward positionrespective to the mount;

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the actuating block onthe charger device elevated for engagement with the charging lug on therecoiling mass;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the actuating blockpartially depressed after the recoiling mass has been retracted past thesearing position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the actuating block inits disengaged position and the switch freed for return to its normalposition; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the actuating blockpositioned adjacent its full forward position during the forward strokeof the actuator piston.

Shown in the figures is a machine gun 12 having a nonrecoiling mount 14and a recoiling mass 16, including a receiver 18, which is mounted onthe mount for longitudinal reciprocation between a forward position anda rearward seared position. A pair of conventional energy storingbuffers (not shown) are operationally disposed between receiver 18 andmount 14 for biasing recoiling mass 16 forwardly thereon. The buffersare loaded by recoiling mass 16 when actuated to its seared position andthe recoiling mass is releasably held in the seared position against thepressure of the buffers by a pair of sears 22, one of which is shown inFIG. 1.

During normal operation of machine gun 12, recoil- 3,352,206 PatentedNov. '14, 1967 ing mass 16 is driven back to its seared position eachfiring cycle by the recoil force produced by cartridge discharge. Inorder to reduce the recoil force transmitted from recoiling mass 16 tomount 14, sears 22 are arranged to release the recoiling mass beforecartridge discharge so that the force of the buffers is applied againstthe recoil force for reduction thereof. However, if machine gun 12 doesnot fire after the release of recoiling mass 16 the recoiling mass endsup in its forward position as there is no recoil force to drive it toits seared position.

To overcome this problem a charger device 24 is provided as auxiliarymeans for actuating recoiling mass 16 to its seared position. Chargerdevice 24 includes an electrically energized actuator 26 having acylinder 28 and a piston 30 which is displaceable by an integralelectric motor means between an extended and a retracted positionrespective to the cylinder with conventional switch means provided forautomatically retracting the piston, after reaching its extendedposition, when the actuator continues to be energized.

Cylinder 28 is pivotally mounted at the closed end thereof to mount 14by means of a pin 31 so as to extend rearwardly therefrom and to bepivotal in a vertical plane respective to the mount. Fixed to the freeend of piston 30 is an actuating block 32 which cooperates with acontrol device 34 for engaging the block to a charging lug 36 onreceiver 18 during displacement of piston 30 to its extended position,as hereinafter described, and thereby move recoiling mass 16 to itsseared position.

Control unit 34 includes a supporting member 37 which is of Uconfiguration in cross-section and which is provided with alongitudinally disposed channel 38 adapted to slidingly receive block32. Channel 38 is open at the top to permit vertical displacement ofblock 32 to where it is contactable with charging lug 36 fortransferring the rearward displacement of the block to recoiling mass16.

Formed in the inside of each of the sides of supporting member 37 is arecess 40 of essentially trapezoidal configuration with a base 42 and atop side 44 arranged parallel thereto. A rear groove 46 extendsrearwardly from each of recesses 40 in longitudinal alignment with base42 thereof and a front groove 48 extends longitudinally forward fromeach of the recesses in alignment with the base. Extending from oppositesides of actuating block 32 is a pair of cylindrical followers 50 whichare slidingly received by front grooves 48, as shown in FIG. 2, whenactuating block 32 is in its retracted position and by rear grooves 46when the actuating block is in its extended position.

Mounted in each of the recesses 40 is a switch 52 having an integralaxle 54 disposed between the front and rear ends thereof. Switches 52are rotatingly mounted in supporting member 37 for cooperation withfollowers 50 to displace actuating block 32, as hereinafter described,between an upper engaging position and a depressed disengaged positionrelative to charging lug 36. A springbiased plunger 56 acts against therear end of each of the switches 52 to bias the switches to normalpositions wherein the bottom front corners thereof contact bases 42 andthe top rear corners contact top sides 44, as shown in one side ofcontact device 34 in FIGS. 3 and 4.

When charger device 24 is energized and piston 30 is driven rearwardly,followers 50 leave front grooves 48 and enter recesses 40 to contactfront surfaces 58 of switches 52. Front surfaces 58 incline upwardly andrearwardly respective to the direction of travel of piston 30 andconsequently when actuating block 32 moves rearwardly it is alsodirected upwardly to its engaging position in front of charging lug 36.Front surfaces 58 are so related to axles 54 that the rearward pressureof followers 50 against the front surfaces tend to force the front endsof switches 52 downwardly to assure that the switches are held in theirnormal positions.

Upper surfaces of switches 52, noted at 60, are spaced sufiiciently fromtop sides 44 of recesses 40 for passage of followers 50 therealong asactuating block 32 continues its rearward displacement by piston 30, todrive recoiling mass 16 to its seared position. Upper surfaces 60 areeach divided into a front section 62, which is arranged to be parallelto top side 44 of the respective recess 40 when the respective switch 52is in its normal position, and a rear section 64. Rear sections 64 arearranged to be parallel to the related top sides 44 when switches 52 arein their displaced positions. Consequently, as shown in FIG. 4, rearsections 64 incline upwardly and rearwardly from front sections 62 whenswitches 52 are in their normal positions to provide a camming surfacethrough which, when followers 50 come into contact therewith, theswitche are rotated to their displaced positions against the biase ofplungers 56.

When followers 50 come into contact with rear sides 66 of recesses 40,recoiling mass 16 is located at an overtravel position slightlyrearwardly of its seared position to assure engagement of sears 22therewith. Rear sides 66 incline downwardly and rearwardly from topsides 44 so that when followers 50 are in contact with such rear sidesthe rearward force of piston 30 drives actuating block 32 downwardly toits disengaged position, freeing recoiling mass 16 which, when freed,moves slightly forward into engagement by sears 22. Rear grooves 46permit overtravel of actuating block 32.

When followers 50 come into contact with bases 42, a cam cut 68 on therear end of each of the switches 52 provides a clearance fordisplacement thereof to their normal positions by plungers 56, as shownin one side of supporting member 37 in FIG. 6. Cam cuts 68 also assurethe displacement of switches 52 to their normal positions as the contactof followers 50 with the cam cuts during the forward stroke of piston 30to its retracted position cams upwardly the rear ends of the switches.Cam cuts 68 also serve to guide followers 50 between bottom sides 70 of:switches 52 and bases 42 which are arranged to prevent displacement ofactuating block 32 from its disengaged position during retraction ofpiston 30.

From the foregoing it is clearly apparent that there is provided hereinfor machine guns of the XM140 type a charging device which is rugged inconstruction and which is quickly disengaged from the recoiling mass andpositioned clear thereof so that firing may be quickly resumed .aftercharging.

variations may be devised within the spirit and scope thereof and thefollowing claims are intended to include such variations.

I claim:

1. In combination with a machine gun having a mount and a recoiling massbiased from a rearward seared position therein to a forward position, acharger device for displacing the recoiling mass on the mount to theseared position, said charger device including an actuator mounted onthe mount, a piston of said actuator displaceable in forward andrearward strokes in the direction of movement oft he recoiling mass onthe mount, an actuating block fixed on said piston for displacementtherewith in forward and rearward strokes, a supporting member mountedon the mount and adapted to slidingly receive said actuating block,switch means mounted in said supporting member for cooperation therewithto elevate said actuating block towards said recoiling mass to anengaging position at the beginning of the rearward stroke of saidpiston, maintain said actuating block in the engaging position during aperiod of travel thereof equal to the distance of displacement of saidrecoiling mass from the forward to the seared position thereof, anddepress the actuating block away from the recoiling mass to a disengagedposition at the end of the rearward stroke, and a charging lug on therecoiling mass disposed for engagement by said actuating block when inthe engaging position to transfer displacement of said piston in therearward stroke thereof to said recoiling mass for actuation thereof tothe seared position, and wherein said actuating block is disposed freeof said charging lug when in the disengaged position.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said supporting member isof U configuration in cross-section and is provided with a channel forslidingly receiving said actuating block for displacement in the forwardand rearward strokes thereof and for displacement between the engagingand disengaged positions and also with a recess in the inside of each ofthe sides thereof, wherein said switch means includes a pair of switchesrespectively mounted in each of said recesses for rotationaldisplacement on integral axle means. and whereas said actuating block isprovided with a pair of followers respectively contactable with one ofsaid switches to assist in controlling the course of said actuatingblock during the forward and rearward strokes thereof.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said recesses are eachprovided with a top side slidingly contactable by the respective one ofsaid followers when said actuating block is in the engaging position andsaid top side having a length at least equal to the distance ofdisplacement of said recoiling mass from the forward to the searedposition thereof, and each of said recesses also having a base disposedparallel to said top side thereof and for sliding contact by therespective one of said followers when said actuating block is in thedisengaged position, wherein said switches are respectively restrainedfor limited rotational displacement bet-ween a normal and a displacedposition by alternate contact of front and rear ends thereofrespectively with said top side and said base of the corresponding oneof said recesses, and each of said switches includes a front surface soangularly disposed respective to the rearward directional movement ofsaid actuating block that contact of said followers with said frontsurfaces during rearward stroke of said actuating block cams saidactuating block to the engaging position and said followers into contactwith the related ones of said top sides, and said front surfaces being30 related to the respective ones of said axle means that contact ofsaid followers with said front surfaces during rearward stroke of saidactuating block presses said switches to the normal positions thereof.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said switches isprovided with an upper surface having a front section disposed forwardlyof the respective one of said axle means and a rear section disposedrearwardly thereof, said front sections being disposed parallel to therespective ones of said top sides when said switches are in the normalpositions thereof and spaced sufi'iciently from said top side to permitrearward passage of said followers therealong and maintain saidactuating block in the engaging position, and said rear sections beingangularly disposed respective to said front sections so as to becontactable by the respective ones of said followers during continuedrearward stroke of said actuating block past contact with said frontsection to rotate said switches to their displaced positions, and saidrear sections also being arranged so as to be positioned parallel to therelated ones of said top sides and spaced therefrom sufiiciently topermit passage of said followers therealong and maintain said actuatingblock in the engaging position when said followers are in the displacedpositions.

switches are respectively provided with a bottom side arranged incooperation with the respective ones of said bases to maintain saidactuating block in the disengaged position during forward strokethereof.

No references cited BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION WITH A MACHINE GUN HAVING A MOUNT AND A RECOILING MASSBIASED FROM A REARWARD SEARED POSITION THEREIN TO A FORWARD POSITION, ACHARGER DEVICE FOR DISPLACING THE RECOILING MASS ON THE MOUNT TO THESEARED POSITION, SAID CHARGER DEVICE INCLUDING AN ACTUATOR MOUNTED ONTHE MOUNT, A PISTON OF SAID ACTUATOR DISPLACEABLE IN FORWARD ANDREARWARD STROKES IN THE DIRECTION OF MOVEMENT OF THE RECOILING MASS ONTHE MOUNT, AN ACTUATING BLOCK FIXED ON SAID PISTON FOR DISPLACEMENTTHEREWITH IN FORWARD AND REARWARD STROKES, A SUPPORTING MEMBER MOUNTEDON THE MOUNT AND ADAPTED TO SLIDINGLY RECEIVE SAID ACTUATING BLOCK,SWITCH MEANS MOUNTED IN SAID SUPPORTING MEMBER FOR COOPERATING THEREWITHTO ELEVATE SAID ACTUATION BLOCK TOWARDS SAID RECOILING MASS TO ANENGAGING POSITION AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REARWARD STROKE OF SAIDPISTON, MAINTAIN SAID ACTUATING BLOCK IN THE ENGAGING POSITION DURING APERIOD OF TRAVEL THEREOF EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE OF DISPLACEMENT OF SAIDRECOILING MASS FROM THE FORWARD TO THE SEARED POSITION THEREOF, ANDDEPRESS THE ACTUATING BLOCK AWAY FROM THE RECOILING MASS TO A DISENGAGEDPOSITION AT THE END OF THE REARWARD STROKE, AND A CHARGING LUG ON THERECOILING MASS DISPOSED FOR ENGAGEMENT BY SAID ACTUATING BLOCK WHEN INTHE ENGAGING POSITION TO TRANSFER DISPLACEMENT OF SAID PISTON IN THEREARWARD STOKE THEREOF TO SAID RECOILING MASS FOR ACTUATING THEREOF TOTHE SEARED POSITION, AND WHEREIN SAID ACTUATING BLOCK IS DISPOSED FREEOF SAID CHARGING LUG WHEN IN THE DISENGAGED POSITION.